Newly appointed Southampton manager Ivan Juric says his side can make an exception as they look to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.
Formerly Roma, Juric, of Genoa and Torino, has likened his style of football to death metal music as he looks to twist his luck at St Mary's this term.
Croatia will take charge of their first game on Boxing Day when Southampton host West Ham. The Saints are currently six points off the bottom of the table. It is rooted to eight points from safety.
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Juric has signed an 18-month deal at Southampton following the sacking of Russell Martin. But his task appears steep, at least on paper.
Only four teams in Premier League history have been in the same position on December 25: West Brom in 2004-05; Sunderland in 2013-14; Leicester in 2014-15 and Wolves in 2022-23.
“It will be a very difficult task,” Juric said.
“I know that nobody in history has been in the Premier League in this situation,” he said. But I think there are a lot of good players, And we're going to get better at certain moments.
“I am optimistic. Really optimistic. Seeing their spirit even the other day is the first step to making it better. I think we can do something special. Guys must be very motivated to do something they've never done before.”
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Despite the challenge, he explained that the job in Southampton was an attractive prospect and how a very specific genre of music informed his tactical approach.
He said: “Southampton's opportunity is a bit of a dream.
“I think life is short; I want to try new things. I want to travel to another workplace. I want to put it in a difficult situation. that's it.
“They (players) don't know me, but I do. I believe them; They have quality, They can do it. be positive try Let everything be possible.
“When I was younger, I was really into Death Metal music and I think it was like my style of football.
“Work hard, stay strong, play well, be strong, all of these things I think (players) can do.”
“They are young; Optimistic, I work hard. It's not easy to change the style immediately, but you have to be clever.”